Raising kids of any age, whether they’re cantankerous teenagers or rambunctious toddlers, is a challenge. This is never more true than when your child has special needs. If you are the parent of a child or children with special needs, you know from experience that this task requires a lot of love, time, commitment, patience and extra care. You’ll need to invest in things to make your child’s life safer and more comfortable, and you’ll need to make adjustments to your life to accommodate theirs.
When raising a child, especially one with autism or special needs, there are a number of things that you may need to do to ensure a good life for them. You may need to find a house designed for those with special needs, or relocate to some of the cities that are more suited to special needs children than the one you live in now. There are many hard decisions to be made, that aren’t written in a manual, and ultimately you may have to choose between your comfort and your child’s future.
There are a lot of things to take into consideration when it comes to choosing an education for your autistic or special needs child. For example, children with autism or other special needs often need face to face interaction to learn effectively. In the type of setting often found in classrooms, this kind of interaction is often lacking, and special needs kids tend to fall through the cracks.
One of the things that poses the most difficulty for parents of special needs children is education. Unfortunate though it may be, the hard truth is that the public education system is often woefully underfunded and under equipped to give children with autism or other special needs a well rounded and healthy education.
Despite the best efforts of many criminally underpaid teachers, this lack of interest and funding by state and local governments often leaves children with autism or other special needs behind. So what can parents of special needs children do to avoid this problem, and make sure their children are well cared for and receive a beneficial education?
Homeschooling for special needs kids
There are a few different schooling options for parents in this predicament. The option to enroll them in one of the many specialized schools for children with special needs is one; hiring a private tutor is another. However, for those who aren’t financially in a position to take advantage of these costly options, there is another: homeschooling.
Although homeschooling has gained something of a negative reputation, for children with special needs it’s often the best option available. In the following section, we’ll explore the various pros and cons of homeschooling a child with autism or other special needs, and give you some ideas as to where to start on this daunting task. Let’s get into it!
Homeschooling pros and cons
Although it may be the best option in many cases, homeschooling a child with autism or other special needs comes with its own set of unique caveats and difficulties that you’ll have to face. Homeschooling is never simple or easy, and when you’re homeschooling a child with autism or other special needs this is especially true.
Homeschooling Con: Time Consuming
One of the biggest obstacles to parents seeking to homeschool a child with autism or other special needs is the time investment required to make it work. It’s virtually impossible to work and homeschool a child, and this is doubly true with a child with special needs. You’ll need to readjust your entire schedule to work with your child’s needs.
This isn’t to say that it’s impossible to work while homeschooling a child with autism or special needs; only that it is very difficult, and will no doubt take a lot out of you. There is no question that homeschooling is best suited for families with a stay at home mom or dad. With no job to focus on, you can put all of your effort into devising lesson plans and meeting your child’s needs.
Homeschooling Pro: Tailored Education
On the other hand, one of the reasons homeschooling is such a great option for parents of children with autism or other special needs is the ability to tailor your child’s curriculum and education. This can be hugely beneficial in your child’s development, leading to them being happier and healthier.
The reason why this is so important is because children with autism and other special needs are unique, just like all other children. No two children are alike, and none will have the exact same set of needs/interests. By tailoring your child’s curriculum to suit their individual needs and interests, you can assure that your child is able to focus on what they enjoy, making school an enjoyable activity rather than a tedious drudgery.
Homeschooling Con: Cost
Another homeschooling con is the cost of the curriculum required to homeschool a child with autism or other special needs. When compared to a public school education that comes at virtually no cost to the parent, the curriculum required to homeschool a child with autism or other special needs.
This can mean very high costs for school materials and curriculum materials for those who chose to homeschool their child with autism or other disorders. While there are other options such as online lessons or DIY curriculums, the most widely used option of a premade curriculum can be very costly, possibly deterring you from homeschooling.
Homeschooling Pro: Fascinating Field Trips
One of the most attractive aspects of homeschooling for parents of children with autism or other special needs is the possibility to take fascinating and highly educational field trips. Unlike a conventional field trip organized by a class at a public school, you have a great deal of control over what you visit, how long the trip is, and who comes along.
This can result in your child gaining valuable experience not only in an academic setting but also a social setting as well. When done in conjunction with a homeschool group (more on that later), you’ll be able to help your child learn to interact with others in a controlled environment that is safe and non-threatening.
How to start homeschooling
If you’ve never had any experience with homeschooling or homeschoolers, you may be wondering where to start. The task of schooling your child at home can seem daunting, leaving you lost as to where or how to start. If you’re stuck in this predicament, you’ve come to just the right place!
The best way to start learning about homeschooling is to get in touch with a local homeschooling group, and ask them for information about this subject. These groups are almost always more than happy to share helpful information about their schooling methods, sharing valuable insight about curriculum, teaching strategies and more.
For more information, you can use the wealth of information found online to further research this topic, especially on specialized home education for children with autism or other special needs. With some searching, it’s not difficult to find all the information you could want regarding homeschooling children with autism or other special needs.
Conclusion
In this modern world, a good education is one of the best gifts you could impart to your children to assure their success. With today’s world being geared more than ever towards individuals who have received a good education, your children will surely thank you for your efforts once they are grown, even if they balk at learning now.
Finally, it’s important to remember that a diagnosis of autism or other special conditions is not the end of the world. There are many who have fought battles with autism and other conditions, and won. Whether you’re married and have a special needs child or are a single parent of a special needs child, there’s a good chance that your child will grow up to be successful; the education you choose for them can make the difference!
Considering the state of the public school system is in, there’s little doubt that, for children with autism or special needs, homeschooling may be one of the best options available to parents of these special kids. We’d encourage you to contact your local homeschool group and get some more info. Homeschooling might be just the thing for you and your child!
Did you enjoy this article? Want to ask a question, or leave some feedback? Leave us a comment in the comments section below! We value our readers highly, and making sure your experience is as good as it can be is very important to us, so we’ll respond to any comments ASAP. From our team to you, good luck with your educational endeavor!
